Resident files complaint of illegal fireworks in Bullhead City

BULLHEAD CITY – Illegal fireworks ruined Sue Demarco’s 4^th of July in Bullhead City. Demarco told city council members Tuesday that her neighborhood was endangered and its peace disrupted by irresponsible revelry during the Independence Day holiday stretch.

“Wednesday night to Sunday night, five days in a row, we had bottle rockets, aerial fireworks, behind us, around us, in front of us, illegal fireworks,” Demarco said. She said she admonished one neighbor about introducing threat of fire along her block.

“Sure enough there was a brush fire right across the street, two doors down from me,” Demarco said. She said she banged on doors to alert neighbors and that the fire was extinguished by the time firefighters arrived.

Demarco also noted that fireworks disturb pets who sometimes flee in fear, posing problems for animal control officers and shelter operations.

Bullhead City Manager Toby Cotter told council members that an unprecedented number of fireworks issues occurred throughout the community.

“We responded to 100 or more calls and we did everything we could to address the calls that came in,” Cotter said. “If anybody had a chance to look over our skyline on the 4th of July, there were more fireworks this 4^th of July than ever before.”

Cotter told Demarco that the current state of applicable ordinances and laws don’t give Bullhead City officials authority to prevent sale or illegal shooting of fireworks. He said authorities can really only respond to incidents as they occur, until regulations and laws change.

Unless and until those changes take place, Cotter said it’s important for citizens to be mindful of the various issues and dangers associated with civilian fireworks involvement.

• Dave Hawkins